TCU Baseball: “I'm passionate about this school… about winning. I'm all in."
Before finding his way to Fort Worth, TX Payton Tolle hailed from the Sooner State. He grew up in Bethany, OK where he lived on the west side of Oklahoma City with his parents Chad and Jina Tolle, and younger brother Charlie.
Tolle spent his days as a young child exerting himself in various sports, including football, basketball, and baseball. His athleticism followed him to Bethany High School, home of the Bronchos, where he competed as a three-sport athlete. Tolle was a power forward and center on the court. He also played tight end and defensive end on the gridiron. The six-foot-six, two-way starter amassed 528 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns in the 2020 season. Defensively, he had 33 tackles and five sacks, and he was named to the Class 4A-District 1 All-District Team in 2020.
While he played all three sports, Tolle said, “I like football. I like basketball. But it has always been baseball." A four-year starter and letter winner, he was named varsity captain as a sophomore, junior, and senior. He was also a four-time All-City selection and was named First Team All-State after his tremendous senior season when he hit .490 with nine home runs and a 0.25 ERA. Tolle set a Bronchos school record with 106 strikeouts in his senior season.
There was no doubt about his abilities, hence his recruitment as a sophomore at Bethany High School. Although recruits came knocking, Tolle had his eyes set on Wichita State.
“It was always one of my top schools,” he said, “my mom went there during Wichita State’s glory days. She always told me stories growing up about how amazing baseball is there.”
His mother, Jina, was part of the women’s golf team at Wichita State from 1994 to 1996. Her experiences there as a student-athlete made Tolle that much more comfortable becoming a Shocker. Since Tolle didn't receive much interest from Oklahoma schools, he also preferred the proximity of being close to home–in fact, just north along Interstate 35.
The process of his recruitment was an interesting one. Tolle had always envisioned himself as a two-way player–but when Wichita State found interest in him, it wasn't his bat that caught their eye.
“I thought my recruiting was interesting because I thought of myself more as a hitter than anything," he said.
While Tolle was recruited as a pitcher, he remained set on pursuing collegiate baseball as a two-way player. After some discussion, Tolle committed to Wichita State in February 2020 as a junior.
Eck Stadium at Tyler Field–Home of the Wichita State Shockers
Fast-forward to his Freshman year, with practices underway for the Shockers, one night Tolle received a call from his pitching coach and former Major Leaguer Mike Pelfrey.
A Kansas native, Pelfrey attended Wichita Heights High School before playing baseball at Wichita State from 2003 to 2005. After going 33-7 with a 2.17 ERA and 366 strikeouts, Pelfrey was selected 9th overall by the New York Mets in the 2005 MLB Draft. The right-handed pitcher spent seven years with the Mets, three years with the Minnesota Twins, and one season with the Detroit Tigers and then the Chicago White Sox. He started 256 games, appeared in 275, and amassed 838 strikeouts in 1,476.1 IP.
When Tolle got the call from his pitching coach allowing him to pursue being a two-way player, he was immediately ready to compete. Looking back on the opportunity, Tolle said, “[Pelfrey] was a big part of it because I think there at the beginning he was somebody that really fought for me to hit.”
He also thanked Mike Sirianni, Loren Hibbs, Coner Behrens, and Nate Briscoe. At the time, Sirianni was an Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator, Hibbs the Director of Baseball Operations, Behrens a volunteer assistant coach, and Briscoe the Director of Video/Analytics. Each played a vital role in Tolle’s development as a person and ballplayer at Wichita State.
Now that Tolle was allowed to be a two-way player at Wichita State, he needed to find a balance in developing his pitching and hitting abilities simultaneously. Not many get to pursue being a two-way player, let alone prove their worth and be good at it–for Tolle, it took some time.
“At Wichita State, it took a lot of trial and error,” he said, “I was trying to figure out what worked, what didn't work.”
The key for Tolle? Getting into shape. Not just the shape of a collegiate baseball player but that of a two-way player. He said, “It's a whole lot different than high school. You're throwing so many more innings and throwing just so much more. And then obviously adding hitting on top of that.”
Practices were different for Tolle. He would begin warming up with the pitchers, getting work in before heading to the batting cage to refine his swing. He struggled at times to keep up, but what got him through it was listening to his body. When his body wasn't right, Tolle would get checked by the trainer before it led to another discomfort. Remaining diligent and ensuring proper sleep and nutrition was necessary for someone like Tolle, who was pushing his body to limits others did not.
2022 was a year of patience and learning for Tolle–particularly on the mound. The left-hander was 4-6 with a 4.48 ERA in 12 starts. In 66.1 innings pitched, he allowed 79 hits, 27.8% of which were extra-base hits, including 13 doubles, two triples, and seven home runs. Opponents batted .294 against Tolle. While it was a tough first year for the freshman lefty, his bat provided a spark at the plate.
He only saw 104 at-bats in 42 games in 2022, but he batted .317 with three home runs and 18 RBIs. With an on-base percentage of .357 and a slugging of .471, Tolle showcased offensive abilities. But still developing, the power for Tolle did not come to fruition quite yet.
But in his sophomore year, things started to change. He began to showcase his power, making better contact throughout the season. In 2023, Tolle started in each of the 55 games. He had more opportunities and made the most of them. From 2022 to 2023, Tolle doubled his number of at-bats and hit .311 with nine doubles, 13 home runs, and 50 RBIs. He drew three times as many walks (18) and had twice as many hits (66).
| GP | GS | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022 | 42 | 37 | 104 | 16 | 33 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 18 | 27 | .317 | .357 | .417 |
2023 | 55 | 55 | 212 | 32 | 66 | 9 | 0 | 13 | 50 | 50 | .311 | .361 | .538 |
His ability to get on-base continued for the Shockers as he finished with a .367 OBP, but credit to his lightning bat, he raised his slugging percentage to .538. He had 20 multi-hit games and 18 multi-RBI games.
Tolle improved on the mound as well. Finishing 9-3 with a 4.62 ERA in 14 starts, he had 97 strikeouts and issued only 19 walks in 85.2 IP. Opponents batted only .245 against him. His best performance came against East Carolina when he pitched a complete-game shutout, giving up just two hits over nine scoreless innings and registering 10 strikeouts.
| W | L | ERA | APP | GS | CG | SHO | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | SO | OBA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022 | 4 | 6 | 4.48 | 13 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 66.1 | 79 | 38 | 33 | 7 | 22 | 49 | .294 |
2023 | 9 | 3 | 4.62 | 15 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 85.2 | 81 | 49 | 44 | 9 | 19 | 97 | .245 |
Following his excellent sophomore year, he was selected First Team All-American Athletic Conference and was one of five finalists for the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award. Tolle was also named Second-Team All-American as a utility player by Baseball America, NCBWA, and ABCA/Rawlings.
Payton Tolle rounds the bases after spanking a home run for the Shockers.
Tolle's two years at Wichita State shaped him as a player and person. But after changes to the coaching staff following the 2023 season, Tolle entered the transfer portal and eyed potential schools as his next home. There was quite the market for the highly sought-after prospect, including a university in Fort Worth–home to the Horned Frogs.
Tolle described his experience in the transfer portal as simple, recalling TCU being one of the first programs to reach out. That was when he spoke with head coach Kirk Saarloos.
“I talked to coach Saarloos that night for 20 to 25 minutes. What I really liked about that and our interaction was that we talked about baseball, but we talked about a lot more. Just family, where we're from, what TCU's culture was like. That phone call was big.”
When Tolle visited Fort Worth, he enjoyed his conversations and experiences with the coaching staff. Aware of the history and what baseball signifies to TCU and its community, he said, “The community of Fort Worth, itself, the campus, just everything felt like a step above everything.”
Jun 21, 2023; Omaha, NE, USA; TCU Horned Frogs head coach Kirk Saarloos points to the bullpen during the ninth inning against the Florida Gators at Charles Schwab Field Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports
While the program speaks for itself, it was also the people who were important to Tolle. “They stick to their word, and they're good people, genuine people,” Tolle explained. He admired how alumni were still deeply connected to the program and always welcomed back.
Since Tolle has been in Fort Worth since Summer 2023, he can confidently say he made the right decision. From the coaching staff to the players, Tolle has found his new home at TCU. He is part of a transfer class with high expectations and feels the team is meshing well ahead of 2024. Similarly, his time at Wichita State, being a two-way player, helped him connect with everyone on the team.
Tolle said, “I have a great opportunity to be both a position player and a pitcher because I can get close with all the guys. I get to spend more time with everybody and get closer to guys that you wouldn't think that you’d get closer to.”
Payton Tolle (49) pitching against the Texas State Bobcats in a preseason scrimmage.
Tolle also believes this is one of the most unique and talented ball clubs he has been part of. The depth of the pitching staff and the hitters is what impresses the most. With the anticipation of the 2024 season, he is eager to play with and against some of the best talent in the nation. Tolle is equally excited about the atmosphere in Lupton Stadium. Previously watching the NCAA Super Regional TCU hosted against Indiana State, he knows it is a sacred place for players and fans. Excitement continues to build around Tolle after being named to Perfect Game's Preseason All-American Second Team. He joins teammate Anthony Silva who was named to the Preseason All-American First Team.
As the 2024 season looms, he believes the most important thing is that the team is themselves. Tolle said, “I just want us to go out there and be us. We're playing a game that 4-year-olds play, so why not have fun with it?”
If there is one thing Tolle wants Horned Frog fans to know about him?
“I'm passionate, and I'm passionate about this school. I'm passionate about winning. I'm all in. [These are] some of the most exciting times of my life.”
With the first pitch of the 2024 season just a few weeks away, the team is making its final preparations for a season full of high expectations. Perhaps another Big 12 Tournament Championship? Or even a return to the College World Series in Omaha? We will have to wait and see, but one thing is clear–we can expect a lot of Lupton Magic in 2024.
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